A letter to your landlord asking for repairs
$9, written from your answers. Official pages checked October 2026.
A polite, specific letter that lists what needs fixing, quotes your province's official rule with the page it comes from, and asks for the repairs by a date you choose. You sign it and send it yourself.
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What this letter does
Open this section ↓- States your details, the rental unit and the date you moved in.
- Lists up to six repairs, each with where it is, when you first noticed it and what is wrong.
- Quotes the official rule on the landlord's duty to repair for your province, naming the page, who publishes it and its date where the page shows one.
- Asks for the repairs to be done by the date you pick, says when you can give access, and says how you are delivering it.
- Ends with a signature line and the line "I have kept a copy of this letter."
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What it does not do
Open this section ↓- It is not legal advice, and Guidepost is not a law firm.
- It does not file anything with a tribunal or start an application.
- It does not threaten, demand, or say who is at fault. If you type words like that into it, the questionnaire shows them back to you and asks you to reword them.
- It does not replace an official form where a province has one: in Newfoundland and Labrador it is a cover letter to the official request form.
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See a sample
Open this section ↓↑ Close this section
Sample, with fictional details This is page one of a sample letter for Ontario, filled in with fictional details. Yours is written from your own answers and quotes the rule for your province.
$9, one letter, no account.
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Write your letter
Open this section ↓The letter quotes the official rule for the place you choose.
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Province notes
Open this section ↓Newfoundland and Labrador: serve the official form with this letter
According to "Tenant's Request for Repairs (form RT-2018-00052)" published by Residential Tenancies Office, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador (https://www.gov.nl.ca/gs/files/landlord-request-for-repairs.pdf), "The Residential Tenancies Office will not accept an Application for Dispute Resolution seeking repairs to be completed by the landlord unless the following conditions are met: a copy of the Tenant's Request for Repairs has been served on the landlord and the landlord has failed to make the repairs within a reasonable amount of time; the tenant provides verification that the Tenant's Request for Repairs was served on the landlord; and the tenant's rent is not in arrears". Your letter is a cover letter to that form, and your download includes a proof-of-service checklist.
Tenant's Request for Repairs (form RT-2018-00052) (official PDF) →
Manitoba: the official form is an alternative
The Residential Tenancies Branch publishes its own Tenant's Request for Repairs form, which you can use instead of this letter or alongside it. Your letter tells your landlord a copy is going to the Branch, so send the Branch that copy.
New Brunswick: section 6(1.1) of the Residential Tenancies Act says the tenant's notice "(a) shall be in writing, (b) shall state the address of the demised premises ..., and (c) shall be dated and signed by the tenant". Your letter carries all three, and the date picker allows at least 7 days, plus 3 if you mail it.
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Common Questions
Does this letter file anything with a tribunal?Open this section ↓Does this letter file anything with a tribunal?
No. It is a written request from you to your landlord. It does not start an application, and it does not replace one. If repairs are still not made, each province has its own route, and the official page quoted in your letter is a good place to start.
Do I have to ask for repairs in writing?
It depends on the province. British Columbia's official page says "Tenants must request repairs in writing: by email, letter or text message." In Newfoundland and Labrador the Residential Tenancies Office will not accept a repair application unless the official Tenant's Request for Repairs was served first. In Ontario the official guidance recommends asking in writing and keeping a copy.
How long should I give my landlord?
Several official pages say "a reasonable time" and give no number of days, and some say nothing about timing, so you pick the date and the letter states it. New Brunswick's official steps sheet is the exception: it describes "requesting the repair be completed within 7 days for normal repairs or immediately for essential services, such as utilities or appliances", and adds 3 days when the request is mailed. For New Brunswick the date picker will not accept fewer than 7 days.
Is this legal advice?
No. Guidepost is not a law firm. The letter states your facts, quotes the official page for your province and asks for something specific by a date. It does not tell you what your rights are in your situation, and it does not threaten anything.
Can I use it in Quebec?
Not yet. Paid documents are not available for Quebec, and the questionnaire says so if you choose it. The free Quebec landlord and tenant guide is still available.
Related guides
↑ Close this sectionGuidepost is not a law firm, and this is general information, not legal advice. You send the letter in your own name, so read it through before you sign it. Full disclaimer.